Telephone-receiver holder.



E c. F. CORGAN. TELEPHONE RECEIVER HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24.1918.

' Patented 0015.15, 1918* M r\ a [A M g 3 J -J Q G Q a g i W Q l" E 3 N t N a g i n INVENTOR:

v i V E A TTORNE Y.

CHARLES F. CORGAN, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

TELEPHONE-RECEIVER HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Application filed April 24, 1918. Serial No. 230,568.

porting a telephone receiver in operative proximity to the transmitter and by means of a supporting member which carries an element adapted to engage and disengage the switch lever of the telephone instrument in such manner as to effect a depression of the lever when the said member is rotated horizontally into position and to release the lever when the element is rotated to another position.

The object of my invention is to provide means for the use of a telephone instrument without the necessity of manipulation, whereby both hands of the operator are left free to be used for writing or otherwise.

What constitutes my invention will be hereinafter specified in detail and succintly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of a telephone instrument looking toward the switch lever, which is broken away to illustrate the operative relationship of my device thereto, my holder being in the lever-engaging position. Fig. II is a similar view showing my holder rotated out of engagement with the lever, the upward movement of the lever being indicated by dotted lines which show the position it occupies when depressed.

Referring to the numerals on the drawing, 1 indicates a pedestal and '2 its column, surmounted by a mouth piece or transmitter 3. adjustably carried upon a neck 4. 5 indicates the ordinary switch lever and 6 the receiver with its usual wiring, as indicated at 7 through the pedestal. The instrument embracing the elements 1 to 7. inclusive, constitutes 'a telephone stand of the usual type in familiar use, and is presented onlyfor purposes of explanation. Since it constitutes no part of my invention, it needs no detail description, but only brief identification of its parts.

My invention consists of a holder by which the receiver 6 may be supported upon the o The shape of the holder and the connection therewith of the receiver 6 are preferably such that when the holder is rotatedto release the lever 5 it will necessarily bring the transmitter and the receiver substantially at right angles to each other, in which position the transmitter and receiver are ready for service. hen the holder is turned to depress the lever 5, the transmitter and receiver are thereby placed out of position for service and their relative positions will signify the fact as effectually as the hanging of the receiver upon the hook of the lever 5 now indicates it.

For the sake of economy and simplicity I prefer to construct my holder of a single piece of wire shaped to form an intermediate portion or arm 9, having at one end a receiver supporting piece 10 and at the other a neck engaging member. The supporting piece 10 is preferably curved to conform to the shape of the receiver 6 as indicated and is preferably provided with depressions 11 and 12 adapted to receive the hooks 13 and 14 of a loop 15 if said loop is made detach-' able. The loop may be detachable and united to the member 10, as shown clearly in Fig.1, and is adapted to efiectually secure the receiver 6 to the free end of the member 9.

At the end of the arm 9 opposite to that which carries the supporting piece 10, I provide an arm support comprising preferably a collar 17 adapted partially to encircle the neck 4 and affording means for rotatably securing the member 9 thereupon. The arm 9 is also provided adjacent to the collar 17 with a lever-engaging member 18.

It may be conveniently madeloy bending the wire of which the member 9 is composed preferably at a slight inclination but substantially at right angles to the member 9, as clearly shown in Fig. I. The inclination of the member 18 shown affords means for effecting a gradual depression of the lever 5 when it is operated for the purpose. Above the member 18 the collar 17 is formed preferably by bending the wire, and between it and the collar there are formed two sections 19 and 20 that are separated by a space sufficient to accommodate between them the vibratory movement of the lever 5. The section 20 is preferably prolonged into a termi- I nal ring 21 by which the entire holder may be conveniently rotated by thumb pressure. The member 9 is rotatably secured to the neck 4 byv any suitable means, for example, a clip 22 that partially surrounds the top of the column 2 and terminates in hooks 23 and 2a which, by the resiliency of the clip 22, serve to engage the sections 19 and 20, respectively, and to hold the parts rotatably but firmly in required position. The distance between the collar 17 and the clip 22 affords firmness of support for the arm 9 upon the telephone stand.

The two positions of the member 9, with parts appurtenant thereto, are shown in the two figures of the drawing, respectively. When the telephone instrument is out of service the member 18 is rotated until it enages the lever 5 and depresses it to operate 1ts switch in the ordinary way. At such tim the receiver 6 is brought in front of the mouth-piece 3 so as to obstruct the latter and practically cut it out ofservice. When the receiver is turned sufiiciently to uncover the mouthpiece 3, the member 18 automatically.

by such movement releases the lever 5 and makes circuit for service. I

It should be observed that While the member 9 should be of sufiicient rigidityto afford a stable support for the receiver 6, it is at the same time desirable to have it so flexible that it may be bent to suit the individual preference of the operator in locating thev relative positions of the receiver and mouth-piece when in service, some operators support to a telephone, instrument, whereby the switch-lever maybe brought opposite said opening'or said engaging member at will. I

2. In a telephone receiver holder,the combination with an arm provided: at one end with means for securing to it a receiver, of an arm support at the other end of said arm comprising a collar, a lever-engaging member, intermediate separated sections, and a clip provided with hooks adapted to engage said sections and thereby rotatably and operatively secure said support upon-a telephone instrumenh i 3.. A telephone receiver holder consisting of a single piece'of Wire bent to form an intermediate arm, means at one end for securing to it a receiver, and an arm support at the other end thereof, said support comprising a switch lever engaging member,

and adjacent thereto-separated sections, be tween which, in use, said lever may vibrate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. CORGAN.

.Witnesses:

JOSEPH L. ATKINS, HOWARD 0. ROGERS. 

